"Finest Hour"

Since finding out that Alisha is pregnant with our second child last week, I have thought long and hard about the kind of Husband and Father I am choosing to be for my Family.  As these thoughts enter my mind I am reminded of the importance of this life and how my choices and influence will play a major roll in the lives of my children.  It is very humbling to know every thought good or bad I willingly entertain in my mind and act on will leave an impression on my children, which may have eternal consequences.  I pray to my Father in Heaven that He will make up the difference for all that I lack, and help me to focus on my family and their needs rather than selfish desires that enter my mind.  The scriptures teach us that this life on earth is a proving grounds and a probationary period (Abr 3:22-26,Alma 34:32-35), and how the decisions and influence we choose to follow will determine our eternal salvation or damnation.  That said, I feel determined more than ever to seek and follow the Light and Life of this world Jesus Christ. 

I am not a doomsday kind of a guy, I love life and am grateful for the experiences it offers.  I have been on this earth now for 32 years and during that time I have seen a very rapid increase of darkness in this world.  At the same time the good, those who seek Light, become more and more faithful and grow in their testimony of Christ.  I have experienced how every choice that I make has consequences that will either bring me closer to Light and Christ, or darkness and "the father of all lies" Satan.  In the book of Mormon there is a scripture (2 Nep 2:27) that very clearly teaches us that there are only two influences in this world to choose from, it says "Wherefore, men are free according to the flesh; and all things are given them which are expedient unto man.  And they are free to choose liberty and eternal life, through the great Mediator of all men (Christ),  or to choose captivity and death, according to the captivity and power of the devil;  for he seeketh that all men might be miserable like unto himself".  These words from a prophet of God clearly teach the importance of our choices.  It amazes me how effective the devil is at distracting us from truths that bring us closer to Christ.  He is so good at getting us to believe that we are the "gods of our own lives", and that we don't need anyone's help or need to rely on anyone but ourselves.  This destructive Pride blinds us from the Truth that all good things and even light itself comes from Jesus Christ.  In John 15 Jesus compares Himself to a vine and all of us as branches of that vine.  In vs 4&5 Christ teaches "Abide in me, and I in you.  As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.  I am the vine ye are the branches; He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit:  for without me ye can do nothing."

I choose to live my life with purpose today because I have a family that relies on me.  We are all in this together and the greatest gift that I can ever give to my children is to help them understand the purpose of this life, and help them gain a desire to seek truth which leads to the Savior Jesus Christ.  Although this life we have been given to live in is beautiful, there's an unseen war going on around us no matter were we may be, and I will do everything that I can to help my children.  Winston Churchill once said "To each there comes in their lifetime a special moment when they are figuratively tapped on the shoulder and offered the chance to do a very special thing, unique them and fitted to their talents.  What a tragedy if that moment finds them unprepared or unqualified for that which could have been their FINEST HOUR."  Until the day I die I will do all that I can to help my children during their time on earth, and like my own father did for me I will give up all of my selfish desires for the benefit of my children.  This is my purpose and the only way I will be able look back on this life as my Finest Hour!

1 Corinthians 9:24  Finishers Wanted!